Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-24
ThnOld Plan.

The trainers Of the Federal Constitution
intended, rs everybody knows, tha' Inc
President and Nice-PreSident of the nited
States should be chosen As United states
seastors are chosen not by popular vote
hut by body intermediate between the
people and those high offices. The fathers
q. the republic were exceedingly conserya'
tive in their political theories. and having
hule or no faith in the ability OF the masses
20 govern themselves, decided 10 proyideio Tor
electing the highest officers OF the Govern
mcut by electors, or cLoOSerS-thesc electors
or cboosers 10 be elected by popularvotc. II
was not intended that the masses should
know beforehand for whom the electors
would vote. The plan proposed to be- car
ried on, was 10 permit the people to vote
for the electors and allow each elector to
vote for his own iayOritc for President and
Vice-PresidCnt, Just as each member oil
State Legislature votes for his own f@yorite
for United states senator.
In 1889 Virginia had twelve electors, oil
whom only ten voted for GEORGE WASH
INGroN. There were two vacancies re-
ported. Maryland reported two vacancies
also, only SIX out Of her eight electors
voting for WASHINGTON.
In 1892 Mary land cast only OF her 10
votes for WASHINGTON, and Vermont only
of her 4.
In 1926 JONI ADAMS was elected Prcsi-
dent: but he received only of Maryland'>
10 votes: only l out OF North Carolira's
II: only out of Pennsylvania 10; and
only out Of Vireinia'S n.
In 1850 Maryland divided her electoral
vote equally between JEFFERSON and
ApANs-5 to 5. North Carolina gave TO
JrTrEEsoN and to ADAMS; and PeunSyl-
yauia : TO JEFFERSON and to ADAMS.
These instances suffice to prove beyond
douh, that our fathers intended the electors
Of President and Nicc-Pre,idont t. be a
hody Of men chosen on their own merits
and uIicommitted to any candidate.
our attention was drawn TO this subject
Nv the following paragraph in the Wash
il rton letter Of the Alexandra Gazette Of
"wednesday:
g. New York Democratic politician
here to-day said be vi, certain the Labor
pgriy would have representation in the
next electoral college. for the reason thit in
several close States, his OWN among them,
u,9tpsrty would make proposal, ior uniting
lis strength with that OF either OF the
Other parties on that condition, and that
such proposals would undoubtedly be &C
cepled.'
It's entirely possible that The knights OF
Labor. and the Prohibilioni,ts, and the
HENRY. GEORGE land.reiormer>, my all
offer TO form coalitions with either the Re-
publican or the Democratic party on the
ferns overwhelmingly, tia. they shall
have a, many electors a. their proportion OF
The popular vote shalt entiile them TO. In
New York city, according 10 the result, OF
the election Of list fall, the liESRY-GEORGg
marty would in the event supposed be ell
titled TO one third OF tn e'ect9rs. And a>
TO the Prohibt.onists, it must be conceded
that II they should enter into an alliance OF
the Kind suggested they would probably
secure half the electors in good many
State.
We 60 not know how i. j. proposed that
the minority rarity shall secure lis due pro-
norton Of the electors. II might be done
by providing for The resignation % some OF
the electors chosen by the majority party,
their places to lie filed by electors chosen
from the minority party. or it might DE
done by making The electoral ticket fusion
ticket. The latter is the plan that would
probably first occur TO the minds Of the
contracting parties; bat inasmuch a, both
sides would most likely have exaggerated
notions a. to the relative strength Of their
forces. it may become necessary to resort 10
the former mode Of apportioning the cleo
tors between the parties.
1t is noteworthy That the Federal Con-
stitutlon should have been 20 framed as to
allow Of this manner Of trading for votes
spd purchasing success. II the President
of the United States were eligible, Or
rather eloctable, by the popular vote, such
atrade would not De a possibility, seeing
That the first election would be decisive
and therefore final.